The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-02-09
AN OLD MAID.
BY uAFaaarr anzcKlSamer WREN.


On the verania at one Of the summer
watering places. one clear, bright evening
stood - group Of merry young girls, laugh
ing and chatting, As girls viii DO, seem
ingly as happy as the days were long
Just then, through a door near them, a
-al slight figure ras=ed--the figure Of a
woman, out of whose face the bloom of
youth had faded. but IN It's place there
lived such a sad sweet, soft expression.
that the want of bloom was almost for
gotten when gazing upon H.
oh. look. girls exclaimed one of the
party. look there goes the old maid ;
she come last night, and has not been out
OF her room since.
Well, as for me said another I
world be glad enough for her to stay in
altogether. for ! do detest an old maid. -
30 do L. said a third
And the gay party laugh 81 on. little
dreaming OF the thoughts which filled
that -oli M ids mind as they - lightly
called her, while she stood leaning there
against the baiustrade. 80 motionless and
pale. with her sad eyes never leaving one
place in the distance, on which they had
fixed themse yes sine the moment she
bad s-opped there. The one place was
pretty white villa. nesting WAY OF famong
a tail grove of trees. hiding there, a. it
We're, away from the noisy, bustling
world.
Her soft, blue eyes grew sadder as she
stood there. and one bright tear rolled
down the narble-like cheek. and fell on
her delicate white hand which firmly
ci.,sped "a trailing vine swinging near
The laughing group saw no tears, but
only "a s.li-i.sced woman, 20 after a short
time she -urned and walked slowly back
toward the door. OR, a. they would
haveit, saw only an oIi maid" one
tall. boisterous girl said il 20 loud this
time that the words were distinctly heard
bv all on the yerandd.
slight flush crrtt into the pale checks
ami then the dark robed figure passed on
through the door.
What d sweet face, whispered one Of
tine party
And a sweet temper too, I expect,
chimed in another for old maids are
always cross.
Girls said kind. gentle voice be-
hind them. and "a lady approached from
the other side of the yerlnda; girls,
have unintentionally heard the remarks
you have lust made about that lady Yes
| heard the laughing, jesung manner in
which YOU called Miss Raymond an old
maid. and perhaps whaty you call her may
be correct, counting the years, as people
generally do; but did vou stop % think
one moment why so sweet and lovely 4
person as Miss Raymond Is, should be an
old maid .
The girls looked abashed At this gentle
repro0f, hut gave no ans ser.
80 Mrs Gray continues 1 know il
is more thou-htless then want Of feeling
girls but still, cannot bear TO hear YOU
speak - lightly ofone who deserves only
praise and loving words from al lips.
Vow, if you viii bear with me long
enough and would ike to hear, I will tell
sou Why Miss Raymond i- an old maid. -
The lau-hin- Lices grow more serio Ii.
ind all beg al once that sine will tell
them. - taking seat ia their midst,
Mrs Gray begins
Ten wears ago this summer I Wa, mere
ajjh as gly and merry party present
then ~ now. Young men and ulaideus.
husbands. wives and children-=ouIe
dear oll p-ople-aud also some old maids
-but Miss Raymond did not come under
that head then.
Wen, among this pleasant company,
was often a iine. handsome youth, who
lived at that pretty villa over there, hal.
hidden BY the trees; and her finger
pointed to the same place on which Miss
Raymond was Just ROW 20 silently zIz-
ing.
His father was a man Of wealth. and
that was their sumner resort, living in
New York during the winter.
Walter was always a great addition to
our party. and this SUMMER am speak
ing OF. he - the hon ofthe day, for no
one could dance half - well, nor ride
half - gracefully, nor row - diyinely, a.
Mr.. Lazy. all the girls would say And
then he was - noble and generous ;
always ready 10 do a kindness for the
old as well as the young-always ready
with a pleasant word and smile
How We did love the boy Coming
and going every day; riding walking and
dancing with the 'flirest of the fair
Otter We wandered VIII he should 50
long remain heart free, for many sweet
maiden would have been glad to have
captivated this gay, handsome youth.
But to all he was Just the same. Until
about this time in August, there came in
our midst one Of the loveliest young girls
it had ever been my good fortune to
meet. More beautiful FAC : had seen
but about this girl was ich an irresis;-
able charm Of such genuine simplicity
that she drew all hearts toward her Al
once. The soltest blue eyes she had,
] the sunniest hair, and the sweetest smile.
She came with anaunt from the South
her flther owning large plantations there.
Twas hate one summer evening, 50 well
D | remember that a number of IA xer,,